Engelbrecht Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Engelbrecht Wildlife Management Area is 316 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Douglas County, near Villard, inside Deer Permit Area 213. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 6,423 deer in DPA 213 in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's wildlife management area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Harvest Reports, 2021 to 2025.
State wildlife management areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasWalk-In AccessEngelbrecht WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 316 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Douglas County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 213 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Villard |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Villard (4 mi), Forada (4 mi) and Westport (6 mi) |
What is Engelbrecht WMA like?
The North tract of the Engelbrecht WMA has restored native grassland, a small amount of native prairie and patches of woodland. The woodlands include some Aspen. The Southern portion of the Engelbrecht WMA has restored grassland and wetland habitat and fairly large stands of planted evergreens. There is lowland brush and small trees around most of the wetlands.
The North tract of the Engelbrecht WMA is managed with periodic prescribed burning and rotational haying. The Engelbrecht WMA provides hunting for deer, pheasants and turkeys. Waterfowl hunting is limited to a few small open water areas on the south end of this tract. This WMA has been managed using prescribed fire and rotational haying.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Engelbrecht WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, mourning doves and small game for Engelbrecht WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Engelbrecht WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Engelbrecht WMA?
Engelbrecht WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 213. The DNR registered 6,423 deer in DPA 213 in 2025, against 5,814 in 2024.
| DPA | Engelbrecht WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 213 | 316 | 6,423 | 5,814 | 5,058 |
Harvest for the whole deer permit area, not the WMA alone: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
How do you get to Engelbrecht WMA?
From Villard, go 1 mile N on CSAH 28 then 4.25 miles NW on CSAH 27 then go 1 mile east on County Road 77. From Villard, go 1 mile N on CSAH 28 then 4.25 miles NW on CSAH 27 then go 1 mile east on County Road 77 then go 0.5 miles south on township road.
Access from the north is via Engelbrecht lane. There is a parking lot at the NW corner of the WMA, where this road meets the WMA. There is also a parking lot on the east side of the WMA.
Nearest towns: Villard (4 miles), Forada (4 miles), Westport (6 miles) and Nelson (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 52, I-94 and MN 28. 1 Walk-In Access site within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Engelbrecht WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Volkman WMA: 276 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Forada WMA: 829 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Herberger Lake WMA: 690 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Kuhtz Lake WMA: 21 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Osakis WMA: 477 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Blair Pond WMA: 32 acres, 6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Engelbrecht WMA
Counting Engelbrecht WMA itself, 2,005 of the 25,868 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,395 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 610 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Engelbrecht WMA?
In Douglas County, near Villard. The DNR's directions: From Villard, go 1 mile N on CSAH 28 then 4.25 miles NW on CSAH 27 then go 1 mile east on County Road 77. From Villard, go 1 mile N on CSAH 28 then 4.25 miles NW on CSAH 27 then go 1 mile east on County Road 77 then go 0.5 miles south on township road.
Which deer permit area is Engelbrecht WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 213. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Engelbrecht WMA?
2,005 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Engelbrecht WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Volkman WMA (0.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Engelbrecht WMA; Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, publicly accessible.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.